1.8 million meals donated to Waterloo Region food bank's annual campaign

An annual fundraising campaign for local food banks has surpassed its goal. The 'Full Bellies. Happy Hearts.' campaign for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region raised 1,829,533 meals for residents facing food insecurity, a news release stated. The campaign, which ran from June 1 to Aug. 31, saw more funds and food donated than before, it said. The Allan Bush Investment Team has matched donations to the campaign throughout its eight years, it added. 'Reaching 1.8 million meals is an incredible accomplishment, but what makes this achievement truly meaningful is knowing what it means for families in our community,' said Kim Wilhelm, chief executive officer of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. The food bank's 2025 fiscal data shows 26,000 children in Waterloo Region live in food-insecure households. This was a seven per cent increase from the previous year, the press release said. 'While today's result is worth celebrating, we can't lose sight of the reality that thousands of children in Waterloo Region are growing up in households struggling to afford the basics,' Wilhelm said. 'The support we received this summer will help families put food on the table, but reducing food insecurity takes more than food. If we want fewer families to need food assistance in the future, we need long-term solutions that make life more affordable and ensure everyone has enough income to meet their basic needs.' Since the campaign began in 2019, it has raised nearly 12 million meals for families and children in Waterloo Region accessing food assistance programs through the Community Food Assistance Network.Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.